Its gull-wing shape made it instantly recognizable. Its characteristic sound while in an attack dive led the Japanese to call it "The Whistling Death." Combined with its high speed, agility and toughness, the Vought F4U Corsair was one of the finest fighters ever built. Originally thought to be too powerful to fly from a carrier, the Corsair weaved a path of destruction in battle after battle during WWII, totally outclassing the much-feared Zero. The last of the great piston-engine fighters, the Corsair went on to become an important component of the US naval air power during the Korean War. Even while it was being replaced by jet aircraft, pilots flying this tough warbird were credited with downing a few MiG-15 jet fighters.

Pictured here is a 1:48 scale replica of a Corsair that was piloted by Major Gregory Boyington, commanding officer of VMF-214 "Black Sheep".
Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10 inches
Length: 8-1/4 inches

Release Date: May 2012

Historical Account: "Pappy" - Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington USMC, (December 4th, 1912 - January 11th, 1988) was an American fighter ace. Boyington flew initially with the American Volunteer Group ("The Flying Tigers") in the Republic of China Air Force during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He later commanded the famous U.S. Marine Corps squadron, VMF-214 ("The Black Sheep Squadron") during World War II. Boyington became a prisoner of war later in the war. For his U.S. Marine Corps service he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.

Boyington resigned his commission in the Marine Corps on August 26th, 1941, to accept a position with the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO). CAMCO was a civilian organization that contracted to staff a Special Air Unit to defend China and the Burma Road. The unit later became known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the famed Flying Tigers of China. During his months with the "Tigers", Boyington became a flight leader. He was frequently in trouble with the commander of that outfit, Claire Chennault. As a member of the AVG 1st Squadron, Boyington was officially credited with 3.5 Japanese aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground, but AVG records suggest that one additional "kill" may have been due to him. (He afterward claimed six victories as a Tiger, but there is no substantiation for that figure.) In the spring of 1942, he broke his contract with the American Volunteer Group and returned to the United States in order to be re-instated in the Marine Corps.

Wingspan: 10 inchesLength: 8-1/4 inches

Features

Diecast construction

Spinning propeller

Removable landing gear

Interchangeable wings to display the model in a folded or unfolded wings configuration